'It's time for me to awaken with the national team'

The volatile striker picked up multiple red and yellow cards last season and honed a "bad boy" reputation off the field, letting off fireworks from the balcony of his city-centre flat, suffering a grass allergy in the middle of a match and drawing publicity for wearing a bizarre hat shaped like a glove.

Balotelli, who has made five appearances for Italy and has yet to score for his country, said it was time to do himself justice at international level.

"It's time for me to awaken with the national team, I have not yet scored a goal and the national team is the best thing for a player," he said, adding that Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini and Italy's Cesare Prandelli had helped him improve.